Dutch ejected
Portugal 2Cristiano Ronaldo 28, 74;Netherlands 1Van der Vaart 11; Portugal beat the Netherlands 2-1 last night to set up a Euro 2012 quarter-final with the Czech Republic and condemn the Dutch to a first group-stage European Champion-ship exit since...
Portugal 2
Cristiano Ronaldo 28, 74;
Netherlands 1
Van der Vaart 11;
Portugal beat the Netherlands 2-1 last night to set up a Euro 2012 quarter-final with the Czech Republic and condemn the Dutch to a first group-stage European Champion-ship exit since 1980.
Needing to win by two clear goals to stand any hope of progressing, Holland took an early lead through Rafael van der Vaart but were undone by goals in each half from Cristiano Ronaldo.
From a Dutch perspective, the final score was rendered immaterial as Denmark’s 2-1 loss to Germany in the other Group B match meant they would not have qualified for the last eight even in case of victory.
Portugal will compete for a semi-final place against the Czechs in Warsaw on Thursday.
Runners-up at the World Cup two years ago, the Netherlands leave Ukraine with their tails between their legs after three consecutive defeats.
Mindful of the pressing need for goals, Holland coach Bert van Marwijk handed starts to both Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Van der Vaart, who replaced captain Mark van Bommel and inherited the captain’s armband from him.
Van der Vaart needed less than 11 minutes to vindicate his manager’s decision, collecting a pass from Arjen Robben and shaping a 25-yard shot inside the left-hand post to put Holland ahead.
However, if the Dutch thought they were in for a comfortable evening, Portugal quickly had them on their toes with a flurry of chances sparked by Ronaldo brushing the post with a low strike.
Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg was allowed to shine on his 50th appearance, thwarting Helder Postiga following an errant back-pass by Gregory van der Wiel and then showing sharp reflexes to box away a Ronaldo header.
Holland failed to heed the warnings though, and in the 28th minute Ronaldo levelled, powering on to Joao Pereira’s incisive, stabbed pass and clipping the ball past Stekelenburg from close range.
Strangely, scoring the opening goal seemed to have inhibited the Dutch, and they were cowed even further by Ronaldo’s equaliser.
So often scorned for his international displays, Ronaldo was a transformed man and after working Stekelenburg with a dipping shot, he hit a header narrowly wide from a corner.
Van Marwijk gambled in the second half, throwing on Ibrahim Afellay for left-back Jetro Willems, but still Portugal came, Nani spurning a good chance by firing at Stekelenburg after Ronaldo had rolled the ball across goal.
The Real man was not so forgiving when Nani returned the favour in the 74th minute, checking inside sharply to send Van der Wiel sprawling and then beating Stekelenburg at his near post.
Van der Vaart hit the post with a right-foot curler, but it was the only bright moment in what was a desperate second period for the Dutch, who saw Ronaldo wobble an up-right in the final minute.
Portugal
R. Patricio, J. Pereira, Pepe, B. Alves, F. Coentrao, R. Meireles (Custódio 72), M. Veloso, J. Moutinho, Nani (Rolando 87), H. Postiga (N. Oliveira 64), C. Ronaldo.
Netherlands
M. Stekelenburg, G. van der Wiel, R. Vlaar, J. Mathijsen, J. Willems (I. Afellay 67), A. Robben, N. de Jong, R. van Persie, R. van der Vaart, W. Sneijder, K.J. Huntelaar.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).
Attendance: 37,445.
Day-to-day fixtures
Group A
» Poland » Greece » Russia » Czech Republic
Poland vs Greece - 1-1
Russia vs Czech Rep. - 4-1
Greece vs Czech Rep. - 1-2
Poland vs Russia - 1-1
Czech Rep. vs Poland - 1-0
Greece vs Russia - 1-0
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Czech Rep. | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Greece | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Russia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Poland | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Group B
» Holland » Denmark » Germany » Portugal
Holland vs Denmark - 0-1
Germany vs Portugal - 1-0
Denmark vs Portugal - 2-3
Holland vs Germany - 1-2
Portugal vs Holland - 2-1
Denmark vs Germany - 1-2
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Holland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Group C
» Spain » Italy » Ireland » Croatia
Spain vs Italy - 1-1
Ireland vs Croatia - 1-3
Italy vs Croatia - 1-1
Spain vs Ireland - 4-0
Today: Croata vs Spain - 20.45
Today: Italy vs Ireland - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Spain | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Croatia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Italy | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ireland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
Group D
» France » England » Ukraine » Sweden
France vs England - 1-1
Ukraine vs Sweden - 2-1
Ukraine vs France - 0-2
Sweden vs England - 2-3
June 19: England vs Ukraine - 20.45
June 19: Sweden vs France - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Ukraine | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Sweden | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Quarter-finals
| Quarter-final 1 | June 21 | Czech Republic vs Portugal | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 2 | June 22 | Germany vs Greece | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 3 | June 23 | Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 4 | June 24 | Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C | 20.45 |
Semi-finals and final
| Semi-final 1 | June 27 | Winner Quarter-final 1 vs Winner Quarter-final 3 | 20.45 |
| Semi-final 2 | June 28 | Winner Quarter-final 2 vs Winner Quarter-final 4 | 20.45 |
| Final | July 1 | Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2 | 20.45 |